I haven't been to NYC in 7 years, or as a vegan. We are planning to visit my brother-in-law in May and looking for recs for fun kid activities. Definitely Central Park. We'll be staying way north in Washington Heights, but have no problem with subway/buses. Any good hands-on type museums? Or places to see dinosaur bones?

the Museum of Natural History isn't exactly hands-on, but it's pretty kid-friendly and has three dinosaur skeletons right in the lobby. (be warned that there are a lot of exhibits with taxidermied animals, though they didn't upset me here like they can in other museums.)

FAO Schwarz should be fun to look around. granted i haven't been there in 15+ years, but it's hard to go too wrong with a fantastical toy store.

_________________vegan cheese bigamy is not allowed. - LisaPunk

So today at PPK I learned how to fork up a falafel and a taco. - craiger_ny

the MoNH also has some manipulative stuff for younger kids, it's worth looking at their site and seeing if they have any special things going on too. i do remember a large 3D praying mantis puzzle and a part where kids could look through microscopes and things, hands on bugs things.... it was sort of hidden away though so you have to know where you're going, check the map/site. We went there when FC was 6 and it was pretty good. Large whales too. I also didn't find the taxidermy thing as bad as i expected it to be.

I really like the playground in Madison Square Park - its centrally located, and perfect for a break in the middle of doing other fun stuff. The lawn should be open then and they have revolving sculpture and art exhibits, which are wonderful. The water features probably won't be open in May, but if anyone is looking for stuff in the heat of summer, that is an added attraction.

_________________My oven is bigger on the inside, and it produces lots of wibbly wobbly, cake wakey... stuff. - The PoopieB.

Mac and Cheese from Sarita's is what alot of people recommend, and they have it in the park on Houston too. (Though they just went through a health inspection that was massively bad that they were closed for repairs for a few weeks).

I see kids in Peacefood cafe all the time, and they have some good finger foods. Pizza definitely Viva Herbal on second avenue. It's just like a regular pizza place, albeit somewhat tiny! Plus when Lula's is re-opened you can walk for ice cream directly after as it is only about 6 or 7 blocks away.

As a kid, I may be alone on this, but I would have enjoyed the Ripley's Museum in Times Square. Now that I'm older, I realize the 'Rip' is for rip-off, but there are usually deals and coupons around, if your daughter is at the age when she'd enjoy it now?